Synthesis of dominant plastic microfibre prevalence and pollution control feasibility in Chinese freshwater environments

Chan, Faith Ka Shun; Stanton, Thomas; Johnson, Matthew F.; Kay, Paul; Xu, Yuyao; He, Jun; Wang, Jue; Liu, Dong; Xu, Yaoyang; Kong, Chuilan; Wang, Zilin

Abstract

Microplastic pollution of freshwaters is known to be a great concern in China and these pollutants can be discharged into the coastal environment through fluvial processes, posing threats to the global marine ecosystem. This paper reviewed the literature measuring microplastic pollution in the Chinese freshwater environment and found that microfibres dominate other plastic morphologies in more than 65% of samples collected in surface water, sediments and effluents of wastewater treatment plants and domestic sewers. Current potential sources of microfibre pollution are identified including fishery activities, laundry sewage, and waste textiles according to previous research. Recommendations are offered using the circular economy management framework, such as textile waste reuse and recycling systems in China, for improving current control measures for microplastics in freshwaters.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 27, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 31, 2021
• Publication Date: Aug 20, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 27, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Journal: Science of the Total Environment
• Print ISSN: 0048-9697
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 783
• Article Number: 146863
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146863
• Keywords: Environmental Engineering; Waste Management and Disposal; Pollution; Environmental Chemistry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5497917
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721019331
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Synthesis of dominant plastic microfibre prevalence and pollution control feasibility in Chinese freshwater environments; Journal Title: Science of The Total Environment; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146863; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.